Former Raptors coach Nick Nurse favorite for vacant Bucks job

While the Toronto Raptors search for their next coach after the firing of Nick Nurse, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in a similar situation. Mike Budenhozler (who the Raptors may end up considering) was let go after the No. 1 seed Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs.

With the Detroit Pistons excluding him from their final three candidates and the Houston Rockets moving quickly to snatch up Ime Udoka, Nurse is running out of options if he wants to get right back in the coaching game. The Milwaukee vacancy was like mana from heaven for him.

The Bucks are not messing around, as they would like to squeeze at least one more championship out of Giannis before he leaves his prime. Nurse gives them a good shot at accomplishing that goal, and Vegas seems to think he’ll take the job.

Per Sportsline.net, Nurse has opened at +300 to succeed Budenhozler as Bucks coach. Top assistant Charles Lee, who recently interviewed with the Raptors for their coaching vacancy, is behind him at +400, while Toronto target and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson is +500. Sam Cassell is listed at +700.

Will former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse join the Bucks?

There may not be a better job in the NBA than Milwaukee. In a smaller market away from constant media pressure, whoever takes the job will get a loaded squad ready to win now and arguably the best player in the league at their disposal in the mighty Antetokounmpo.

Nurse was linked to the Rockets’ job quite frequently, but this seems like a better use of his time and energy. The Bucks have proven they can earn a No. 1 seed with this roster and then ride Giannis’ coattails to a championship, but some untimely errors from Budenhozler made the second half of that equation much harder.

Nurse bringing his insane schemes to a team that already has a Defensive Player of the Year in Giannis and two of the best individual defenders at their respective positions in Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez might make Milwaukee the most difficult team in the league to play against.

Barring any other postseason collapses, the Milwaukee job might end up being the best vacancy out there in this hiring cycle. Nurse’s championship ring makes him as qualified a candidate as anyone for the position. He could haunt the Raptors routinely over the next few years if he gets this job.